Checkmate! Medieval People at Play

Games

Nothing is quite so satisfying as winning a game of chess against a worthy opponent or solving a puzzle on your own through patience and mental prowess. This was just as true a thousand years ago as it is today, and the importance of these games to medieval people is evident from the fact that they chose to spend time and money illustrating them. Not only were the images of people playing games costly, but the game pieces themselves could be intricate works of art made from precious materials. However, while these objects could be expensive, they did not have to be—the beggar shown playing dice clearly knows the game, and the playing cards displayed here are printed on paper and would have been relatively inexpensive. Games were, and still are, something to be enjoyed by all: through strategy and luck, anyone can be victorious.